Venice is the last stop on our trip. Should we drop our rental car off at Marco Polo on our way into Venice or park it for a few days and take it the airport the day we depart? I'm sure we don't need it while in Venice and public transportation looks good. We are staying in an apartment near Viale Vittorio Veneto. Thank you for your advice.
Posted by
San Diego
552 posts
Pay for the added rust-proofing if you're going to park it on the Grand Canal.
Posted by
San Diego
552 posts
Seriously though, I think you answered your own question.
Once you've packed yourself up, light & tight, to enter Venice, it's all about public transportation from there on out.
Posted by
North Carolina
2504 posts
Transport from the airport into the city and back is easy - #5 bus, or Alilaguna. Drop that rental car, definitely.
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
Why pay for the car and the parking while you are in Venice?
"I'm sure we don't need it while in Venice". This is obviously your first trip. I can assure you you can't drive a car in Venice even if you want to, unless it is amphibious, it is all canals The nearest you can get is an expensive car park in Piazza Roma at the edge of the city. Everything after that is boats or feet.
Dump the car and enjoy Venice.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
I agree, you will be paying much more for parking (and risk of damage to the rental car) if you leave it parked while you are in Venice than if you turn it in and use public transportation to/from the airport.
Posted by
Green Bay
21407 posts
See if you can drop it off at Piazzale Roma. Even if there is a surcharge, it will save a lot of time, plus the transport cost to get from the airport to Venice. And mind the robo-cam speed traps on the causeway to Piazzale Roma.
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
Where is your destination previous to Venice? That's where I would probably drop it off and forget about as the train takes you straight into Venezia S. Lucia station. Get rid of the car as soon as you can.
Posted by
San Diego
552 posts
Good call, Tim!
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16243 posts
Drive to Venice and drop it as soon as you arrive in the city (not the airport).
Follow directions to Venezia, from Mestre (on the mainland) you will be crossing the Ponte della Liberta' (Liberty Bridge). Drive under the speed limit, because there are speed cameras. Follow directions to PIAZZALE ROMA. As you arrive at piazzale Roma, across the bridge, there is a huge Parking structure on your right. All rental car returns are there on the ground floor (don't enter the parking garage though). Piazzale Roma and the Tronchetto island next door, are the farthest places you can drive in. Beyond that it's only boats or walk. After you return the car there, go get a 'Vaporetto' (water bus). The dock you get off to go to the apartment is SANT'ELENA. It's the last stop before heading to Lido.